What Can I Use Instead of Laundry Detergent?

Running out of laundry detergent can feel like a small crisis. But don’t worry, your clothes don’t have to suffer. You can use plenty of simple alternatives to help manage odors and refresh laundry without store-bought detergent. You’ve probably already heard about baking soda, but did you know there are other alternatives, too? Let’s take a look.

Explore Natural Substitutes That Clean Clothes Without Traditional Detergent

If you’ve ever run out of detergent, you’ll be glad to know that your cupboard has some clever alternatives up its sleeve. 

• Baking soda: Baking soda is your laundry’s deodorizer. It helps neutralize odors and softens water, which means stains and dirt lift more easily. Plus, it can help reduce lingering odors.
• Vinegar: Distilled white vinegar is a natural fabric softener and brightener. It helps cut through soap residue, reduces static, and even tames musty smells. And don’t worry, the vinegar scent disappears as clothes dry.
• Castile soap: This plant-based liquid soap is gentle and commonly used for laundry and household cleaning. It breaks down grease and grime without harsh chemicals.
• Soap nuts (or soap berries): These little fruits contain saponin, a natural cleaning agent. When tossed into the wash, they release a mild soapy solution that cleans without stripping fabrics. 
• Lemon juice: Lemon juice works as a natural bleaching agent for whites, and it helps lift light stains and brightens fabrics. Just be sure to use it on whites or colorfast items to avoid fading. 

Hint: Don’t use dish soap as a laundry detergent or body wash for laundry. Below, we’ll look at some great natural alternatives.

Harness Baking Soda: Odor Control and Water Softening

Baking soda is excellent at removing unwanted smells. Whether you have a musty fridge, smelly sneakers, or a garbage bin that’s seen better days, baking soda is a brilliant solution. A sprinkle of baking soda goes a long way. It works by neutralizing the acids that cause odors, leaving the air fresher without covering things up with heavy perfumes. 

Interestingly enough, it is also a gentle water softener. Hard water can leave your laundry a bit stiff or your dishes spotted. Adding a little baking soda to your wash helps soften the water, which lets your detergent work more smoothly.

Tips for Adding Baking Soda During Wash

Using baking soda for your wash cycle is easy peasy. It’s not rocket science, and you don’t have to do anything complicated. 

• Toss it in with detergent or a laundry sheet like Freddie: Add about half a cup of baking soda directly to the drum along with your regular detergent. It boosts cleaning power and helps neutralize stubborn odors.
• Pair it with vinegar (but not at the same time): Vinegar is great for softening fabrics, but don’t mix it with baking soda in the wash together, as they’ll cancel each other out. Use vinegar in the rinse cycle instead.
• Great for hard water: If you’ve got mineral-heavy water, baking soda can help soften it.
• For extra-smelly loads: Use baking soda for gym gear, pet bedding, or musty towels. Add a little extra for maximum odor-fighting power. 

Employ Vinegar and Lemon Juice: Sanitizing, Stain Removal, and Scent

Sometimes the simplest household staples pack the biggest punch. White vinegar, for example, is commonly used in households to help freshen fabrics and reduce odors. A splash in your wash is often used in households to help freshen fabrics and reduce odors.

Lemon juice provides natural laundry benefits. It’s especially handy for removing stubborn sweat stains and that yellowing that tends to creep into light-colored fabrics. Just a little squeeze can help brighten up dingy spots and restore your clothes’ crisp look. Also, lemon juice leaves behind a fresh, citrusy scent that beats the chemical fragrances.

Rinse-Cycle Tips and Cautions

In the rinse cycle, leftover detergent, dirt, and residues get washed away. But it’s important to remember a few important steps.

• Don’t overdo the rinses. A single rinse cycle is usually enough. Triple-rinsing might sound extra-clean, but it uses much more water and energy without adding much benefit. 
• Use the right amount of detergent upfront. If you’re constantly tempted to re-rinse, it might be a sign you’re using too much soap. Try cutting back on detergent; your washer won’t have to work as hard in the rinse cycle.
• Mind the environment. Every rinse cycle uses gallons of fresh water, so running extra cycles just “for good measure” can harm the planet and your utility bill.
• Choose rinse options wisely. Many modern washers offer an “extra rinse” button. Use it strategically instead of defaulting to multiple rinse cycles.

Leverage Castile Soap and Soap Nuts: Plant-Based Cleaning Power

Plant-based options like castile soap and soap nuts make it easy when you want a cleaner home without the chemical overload. Castile soap is made from pure vegetable oils. So, it gives you an all-purpose liquid that works everywhere. Soap nuts, on the other hand, are little dried fruits packed with natural saponins, which create a gentle cleaning action when they come in contact with water. They’re reusable and commonly used as a plant-based laundry option and are suitable for a variety of fabrics.

Choosing Between Soap Nuts and Castile Soap

Both soap nuts and castile soap offer cleaning effects, but they shine in slightly different scenarios. 

• For lighter loads (everyday wear, linens, baby clothes): Soap nuts are naturally saponin-rich, which means they lift dirt without leaving residue. They’re especially handy if you like to “set it and forget it.” Just toss them in a small cloth bag and let them do their thing.
• For heavier loads (workout gear, muddy play clothes, kitchen towels): Castile soap steps in as the muscle. A small splash diluted in your washer or pre-mixed solution gives extra support for tackling heavy-duty laundry items where sweat, oils, or grime need more attention.
• For mixed loads: Use soap nuts as the base and add a touch of castile for items that need a little more oomph.

Mix and Match: When to Combine Natural Substitutes With Usual Detergent

Baking soda pairs perfectly with regular detergent: toss about half a cup into the drum, then add your usual soap to the dispenser. It softens water, freshens clothes, and helps your detergent work harder. You can also use vinegar instead of fabric softener, but don’t mix them at the same time.

Adopt Smarter Laundry Habits to Save Water and Energy

One of the simplest ways to make your laundry routine more frugal is to wash less often. Every load you skip saves a big chunk of water and energy, which is good news for both the planet and your utility bill. Plus, giving your clothes a little break between washes helps them last longer.

Instead of tossing everything straight into the hamper after one wear, try easy refreshers: hang clothes outside for some fresh air, use a steamer to lift out wrinkles and odors, or give items a quick spot-clean. 

You should also check the differences between laundry detergent sheets and liquid detergent.

Spotlight: Dissolvable Laundry Detergent Sheets

Dissolvable laundry detergent sheets like Freddie’s are here to stay. These compact, pre-measured sheets are designed to dissolve completely in water, making it super easy to wash your clothes. Just take a sheet and toss it in the washer with your laundry. They’re packaged without plastic jugs and formulated without dyes, phosphates, or parabens, designed to minimize packaging bulk and simplify storage.

Plus, Freddie’s laundry detergent sheets provide a compact, pre-measured format that fits easily into different laundry routines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Can You Use Instead of Laundry Detergent if You Run Out?

If you run out of laundry detergent, you can use baking soda, vinegar, castile soap, soap nuts, and lemon juice. Most of us have these storecupboard staples at home anyway, so it should be a quick fix.

Can I Still Wash My Clothes Without Detergent?

You can! You can use baking soda and vinegar (but not together at the same time) and refresh your clothes without detergent. Of course, proper detergent or laundry sheets are optimal, but these alternatives are totally acceptable if you’ve run out.

Can I Use Shampoo as Laundry Detergent?

No, you shouldn’t use shampoo in place of detergent. Shampoo has excessive suds, which would cause your washer to overflow. It can also leave residue on your clothes. Keep the shampoo for your hair and stick to laundry detergent, pods, or sheets for wash day.

What to Use When You Have No Laundry Detergent?

If you don’t have laundry detergent, you can use a few ingredients you likely have at home. Baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice are great alternatives if you’ve run out of detergent. Just remember not to use baking soda and vinegar at the same time, as they’ll cancel each other out.

Ready to Try Freddie’s Dissolvable Laundry Detergent Sheets?

Freddie’s laundry detergent sheets make laundry easy and simple. All in one simple, dissolvable sheet. No measuring, no mess. Plus, they’re pre-measured, dissolvable, and packaged without plastic jugs, designed to simplify laundry and reduce storage clutter. Curious to see the difference for yourself? Shop Freddie’s laundry detergent sheets today and make laundry a little lighter.